The success of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has been attributed to digital transformation, according to Mr. Kelvin Jiraji, co-chair of the G-20 Africa Digital Economy Summit (AfriDES). He announced the conference that will take place in conjunction with the G20 conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, next month, while speaking in Abuja today.
“Digital transformation is critical for the continent, especially in accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Agreement,” asserts Mr. Jiraji, who is also the convener of AfriDES. It is now essential to understand the eco-systemic aspects of the digital economy’s value chain and the necessity of connecting to its superstructures due to the rapid proliferation of technology and digital transformation.
“Therefore, fostering strong engagements, leveraging collaboration and partnership with Heads of Government, Policymakers, FinTech Providers, and others is one of the priorities of the Africa Digital Economy Summit.” worldwide innovators, entrepreneurs, and a wide spectrum of stakeholders and important industry players.
The speaker asserted that digital trade has become a reality and that Africa stands to gain greatly from digital transformation, particularly from payment platforms that facilitate cross-border trade and increase intra-continental trade. The topic of AfriDES, “Digital Transformation for Sustainable Growth: Africsa’s Path to a Connected Future,” was appropriate, Mr. Jiraji said, adding that Africa could not keep playing the “catch up game.”
“It also appreciates the imperative of deepening synergy with critical Stakeholders worldwide to advance and enhance inclusive digital transformation. That is why it has institutionalised this side event, as a critical corollary of its Agenda,” the Co-Chair said. “AfriDES is a strategic vision of the Group of 20 Industrialised Nations, G20,” he said, acknowledging the significance of inclusive digital transformation on national and sub-national economies as a catalyst for economic growth.
He states, “A wide range of stakeholders will be able to work together at the Summit to maximise the potential and sustainability of Africa’s essential digital economy infrastructures; at the same time, new and existing networking opportunities will be developed and strengthened, industry awareness will be advocated for, and support will be given to national and subnational digital economy and transformation initiatives by the public and private sectors. “This summit is in line with Africa’s institutional framework for implementing the e-Government Master Plan and attaining its Digital Economy Policy and Strategy.”
Because “Digital Economy resilience is the engine room for the implementation and articulation of economic and business policies and programs, both in the public and private domains, and serve as the catalyst for building efficiencies and capabilities to deliver on critical aspects of economic transformation, development, and national re-engineering,” he described the summit as being especially strategically important for Africa’s e-governance and its ecosystem.
The summit’s organiser revealed that leading FinTech companies, regulators and policy makers for the digital economy, and other strategic experts have been enlisted to contribute to the conversation about the digital economy in Africa and beyond.
“We firmly believe that the four-day summit will present promising avenues for the revitalisation of the many economic and other promising investment prospects that will generate income, offer employment opportunities, and foster African growth.
“The Summit’s Resolutions will undoubtedly introduce new concepts and efforts into the policy planning framework to support a collaborative and organised framework in achieving priority goals for the digital economy,” Mr. Jiraji stated.
